When you want to draw strong connections between your NASCAR efforts and your street cars (you know, the whole “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” thing), there’s no better way to do it than to build a show stopping custom. And when you’re a company like Toyota, the end result is a stunning Camry that packs NASCAR-levels of horsepower in a gorgeous 2-door coupe body. Built in cooperation with TRD, the experts here at RK Motors drew on some pretty impressive fabrication skills to create the Toyota Camry NASCAR Edition you see here.

Working with detailed technical specifications and a series of illustrations, this entire car was fabricated from scratch, and showcases the strong technical alliance between Toyota Racing Development (TRD) and RK Motors Design/Build. It debuted at the 2010 SEMA show, and was on display during the NASCAR race weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. It was also part of the TRD display at the LA Auto Show November 19-28, 2010, the North American International Auto Show in Detroit January 15-23, 2011, and will be on the road at many NASCAR races in 2011.

Similarities to the full-race Camry you see racing on the big ovals every Sunday are not mere coincidence. The exterior shell of the vehicle is a custom 2010 Camry two-door coupe, fabricated entirely in steel by RK Motors’ expert metalsmiths. Using the body as a canvas, we installed several racecar features including a custom NASCAR-inspired body kit, Toyota grill (note that the holes are actually Toyota emblems), carbon fiber brake ducts with fog lights, and TRD emblems. Other trick details include the NASCAR-style side exhaust system, carbon fiber rear-view mirrors, and that faired-in deck lid spoiler. With expert craftsmanship, the custom parts and OEM components blend seamlessly—note details like the fuel filler door, the Camry taillights, and the door handles, which are all straight off the assembly line. The paint job is a show-quality two-tone that emphasizes the car’s muscular shape. It has been expertly applied, the wet sanded and buffed to an incredible shine, necessary under the bright lights of SEMA.

Underneath the exterior shell sits a powerful TRD NASCAR V8 engine that displaces 358 cubic inches and delivers a cackling 680 horsepower at 8500 RPM. The beautifully finished engine features a custom air cleaner housing with dual conical air filters, with a paint scheme that matches the exterior of the car. NASCAR tricks abound, from the fuel pressure gauges mounted on the firewall, to the remote reservoirs for the brakes and clutch, to the massive billet aluminum strut tower brace that spans the front of the engine bay. And yes, before you ask, the engine is fuel injected, not carbureted, and uses distributorless ignition to light the fires. Making it street friendly meant adding A/C, power steering, and a reliable serpentine belt system, which makes this car as comfortable as a stock Camry in the day-to-day grind. Up front, a massive radiator with electric fans keep the potent engine cool, and you’ll note that the engine has been set as far back as possible to improve weight distribution. Looking at the detailing throughout the underhood area, it’s awfully hard to remember that this is a hand-built car, not something off a production line. Detailing is certainly impressive, but even more amazing is how OEM it all looks.

The engine is mated to a Tremec T-56 Magnum six-speed manual transmission with a Ram dual-disc street clutch. With a deep overdrive, the potent engine is capable of pushing the slippery shape of the street car deep into NASCAR territory. Racecar handling is achieved through modified MacPherson struts in the front and a Venza-modified multi-link independent rear suspension. Shocks are single-adjustable race pieces with coil-overs. The high performance of the NASCAR Camry can be heard through a custom three-inch exhaust with X-pipe, Thrush mufflers, Quicktime performance cut out, custom side exhaust tips and high temperature Turbo Black coating by H.M. Elliot Inc. The car sits on TSW Jarama wheels that measure 20 × 8.5 inches up front and 20 × 10 in the rear, and are fitted with 245/35/20 front and 285/30/20 rear Michelin Pilot tires.

Inside, The NASCAR Camry is far more luxurious and comfortable than its NASCAR namesake, and includes such niceties as a full-sized rear seat. Modified with leather-covered door panels, a suede headliner with integrated rear tweeters, and leather-covered power seats with billet TRD logos, it is as comfortable and well-appointed as any Camry on the road today. The two-tone leather ties in with the exterior paint scheme, and shows no signs of wear. The dashboard and steering wheel are production pieces, while a billet shifter and SPEK gauges by Propart mounted above the center stack give it a high-performance look. Comfort is enhanced with air conditioning provided by Vintage Air, and for added safety a four-point roll cage was installed. Other details that give it an OEM feel are little details like the trunk and fuel door release on the floor, the overhead lighting, and power windows and locks. A Pioneer AVIC-2110BT DVD/NAV receiver was selected, while Boston Acoustics supplied two GT-275 75w amps, four GT-475 75w amps, two pair of SR-60 two-way 6.5 component speakers and a G212-44 12-inch subwoofer. Together, these components are able to counter the throaty sound of the engine and deliver crisp, clear performance that you’ll have to hear to believe.

Of course, the trunk is fully lined and finished like any Camry’s, further blurring the line between race car and street car. A custom bulkhead mounts the audio system’s components, yet still leaves plenty of room for a few suitcases—more proof that this is a no-compromises build.

It is incredibly rare for an automaker to participate in a project like this, and most custom projects like this are handled in-house. In the case of the NASCAR Camry, Toyota joined RK Motors to build something that is more than just a cool coupe. It’s fast, comfortable, and fully sorted throughout, with a ton of easily recognized DNA running through its veins. It showcases both RK Motors’ design/build capabilities and Toyota’s significant commitment to success in NASCAR. Look for it on the TRD display at many of the major auto shows and NASCAR races during 2011.